Skype to punch up its mobile app with group chats

Skype will add group chats to its mobile app to mark the 10th anniversary of offering video calls.

The Microsoft-owned company said Tuesday in a blog post that the new feature will show up "in the coming weeks" on its app for iOS, Android and Windows 10 Mobile.

"It really has been a decade since Skype changed the way people connect with their loved ones," said Gurdeep Pall, corporate vice president of Microsoft. "Six years ago, we innovated again with one-to-one video calling on mobile phones. Today, we are excited to announce the next evolution."

Skype didn't say how many people will be able to share a video call on the mobile app, though its desktop version allows for 10 participants. Also unstated is the specific date for the feature's arrival.

The company isn't exactly ahead of the curve on this release. Some rivals already offer it, including Google Hangouts since 2011 and the Oovoo messaging app.